American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 46, 989-994, Copyright © 1987 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Vitamin A intake and plasma retinol levels in healthy elderly men and women

PJ Garry, WC Hunt, JL Bandrofchak, D VanderJagt and JS Goodwin
Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131.

We examined intakes of vitamin A (diet plus supplement) and plasma retinol levels in a select group of elderly men (n = 90) and women (n = 110) on three separate occasions over a 4-y period. Median dietary levels remained at approximately 1400 retinol equivalents (RE) in men and 1250 RE in women. There were no time trends or gender differences noted in plasma retinol concentrations. Approximately 44% of the elderly men and women consumed an average of 2000 RE of a vitamin A supplement daily. Those taking supplement had a greater mean plasma retinol concentration than those not taking a supplement. This effect was greater in men than in women. A review of previous studies revealed that plasma retinol increases from a mean of approximately 35 micrograms/dL (1.22 mumol/L) at preschool age to a plateau of approximately 60 micrograms/dL (2.09 mumol/L) by age 40 y in men and 60 y in women.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. Humphreys, R. M. Martin, B. Ratcliffe, S. Duthie, S. Wood, D. Gunnell, and A. R. Collins Age-related increases in DNA repair and antioxidant protection: A comparison of the Boyd Orr Cohort of elderly subjects with a younger population sample Age Ageing, September 1, 2007; 36(5): 521 - 526. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C Feart, V Pallet, C Boucheron, D Higueret, S Alfos, L Letenneur, J F Dartigues, and P Higueret Aging affects the retinoic acid and the triiodothyronine nuclear receptor mRNA expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells Eur. J. Endocrinol., March 1, 2005; 152(3): 449 - 458. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Michaelsson, H. Lithell, B. Vessby, and H. Melhus Serum Retinol Levels and the Risk of Fracture N. Engl. J. Med., January 23, 2003; 348(4): 287 - 294. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Formelli, T. Camerini, E. Cavadini, V. Appierto, M. G. Villani, A. Costa, G. De Palo, M. G. Di Mauro, and U. Veronesi Fenretinide Breast Cancer Prevention Trial: Drug and Retinol Plasma Levels in Relation to Age and Disease Outcome Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., January 1, 2003; 12(1): 34 - 41. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. L. McKay, G. Perrone, H. Rasmussen, G. Dallal, W. Hartman, G. Cao, R. L. Prior, R. Roubenoff, and J. B. Blumberg The Effects of a Multivitamin/Mineral Supplement on Micronutrient Status, Antioxidant Capacity and Cytokine Production in Healthy Older Adults Consuming a Fortified Diet J. Am. Coll. Nutr., October 1, 2000; 19(5): 613 - 621. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. D. Dawson, Y. Yamamoto, R. Zolfaghari, F. J. Rosales, J. Dietz, T. Shimada, N.-q. Li, and A. C. Ross Regulation of Hepatic Vitamin A Storage in a Rat Model of Controlled Vitamin A Status during Aging J. Nutr., May 1, 2000; 130(5): 1280 - 1286. [Abstract] [Full Text]